Ultrasound imaging is one of the safest, easiest ways for healthcare providers to examine inside of the body. At Colorado Obstetrics and Women’s Health facilities, our OB/GYNs use obstetric ultrasounds for pregnancy and sonograms or scans for women’s health care. Our practice encourages these services for many beneficial reasons.

What are Ultrasounds?

During this service, sound waves are sent off which bounce off structures and return as echoes. The echoes are transformed into images, showing formations of internal tissues and organs. These images are measured in real time, and a data report is sent to the physician for review.

Ultrasound Services

We at Colorado Obstetrics and Women’s Health provide several types of ultrasound services which can be performed in the office. Our friendly, dedicated staff strives to make you as comfortable as possible during the procedure. Most women feel light pressure and the cold, gooey lubricant used for soundwave enhancement.

Obstetric Ultrasounds

Routine pregnancy ultrasounds are typically scheduled during certain weeks of gestation. Your physician will determine the need for an obstetric ultrasound based on you and your baby’s specific needs. With each of these sonograms, you receive keepsake snapshots of your baby to take home with you. The purpose for each scan is described below:

• Dating screening (6-9 weeks gestation)
  • Due date
  • Gestational age
  • First view of your baby

• First Trimester screening (12 weeks)
  • Confirming due date
  • Investigating for possible abnormalities
  • Checking on baby’s wellbeing

• Second Trimester Anatomical Screening (18-20 weeks)
  • Measuring baby’s anatomy
  • Analyzing physical development
  • Possibly seeing a glimpse of your baby’s arms and legs, facial profile, and gender (if desired)

• Third Trimester Ultrasound
  • Recommended for high-risk circumstances such as twins, prior abnormal scans, risk of preterm labor, or gestational diabetes.

 Types of Prenatal Ultrasounds

• Standard 2D: A 2-dimensional view of your baby. You might see your baby wave or kick in real time or see baby’s heart beating.
• 3D/4D: A 3-dimensional image of your baby. 4D is a 3-dimensional picture in motion, like a video clip.
• Targeted: This advanced approach is used to further examine a suspected abnormality.
• Doppler monitor: This small, portable device is used to easily check you and your baby’s heart rates and blood flow. You can hear the whooshing sound of the blood flow as the doppler picks up the echoes.

Gynecological Ultrasounds

At Colorado Obstetrics and Women’s Health, our services are for woman’s health needs, including pain, cysts, abnormal bleeding, and more. Gynecological ultrasounds are used in health services that are not related to pregnancy.

• Abdominal scan: Examine structures within the abdominal cavity such as the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and appendix.
• Pelvic scan: Examine the female reproductive organs such as the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries.
• Transvaginal: A type of pelvic scan with a vaginal approach. Some details are seen better with this method.

Benefits

This service is the go-to diagnostic for multiple beneficial reasons. The procedure typically only takes a few minutes and can be completed in our office. These are primarily non-invasive, meaning they do not invade the body or puncture the skin. They do not require IV or oral dye (contrast) for viewing, nor do they emit harmful radiation. In fact, little to no discomfort is expected. They are more comfortable, more affordable, safer, and more convenient than most other diagnostic tests. If you are pregnant, prenatal ultrasound benefits are abundant. You can see your baby in real time, watch movements, and take home photos that can be cherished forever. You can even complete a gender ultrasound to see if you are welcoming a boy or girl into your family. Feelings of joy, enhanced bonding, and receiving reassurance are some excellent reasons moms-to-be enjoy our prenatal services and obstetric ultrasounds. Make an appointment today and ask about our services.